Needle threader



T. BALMER.

NEEDLE THREADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1920.

Z A m y w L m m l N m E m M IW I HH M T. BALMER.

NEEDLE THREADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

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realise Nov. at, 1922.

'rnoivies Brim/ma, or OTTAVTA, on'riinio. CANADA.

NEEDLE rnnnannn.

Application filed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,512.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BALMER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Carleton and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle Threaders, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to novel improvements in threading devices for needles and more particularly pertains to a combi nation tool for sewing machines, adapted for quickly threading the needle and being likewise adaptable for use in the adjustment of various screws and small parts of the machine.

Another object is to provide a device of economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Figure 1 is a fragmental elevation of a sewing machine, illustrating the application of the invention thereto and the initial step in the threading operation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrating the threading operation being completed. i

Fig. 3 is a magnified elevation of the tool showing the protector plate in open posi tion.

Fig. 4; isa similar view showing the protector plate in closed position.

Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the tool,

illustrating the open position of the protector plate for holding the wire threading member.

Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the closed position of the protector plate, with the wire member in posit-ion for entering the needle eye.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation of the back.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental longitudinal section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7

Referring to the drawings like numerals designate like parts in the various drawings.

needle.

The device comprises preferably a sheet metal stamping formed with a shank 10 and an extended end portion serving as a handle 11. The shank 10 is provided with two reduced portions 12 and 13, which latter terminates in a chisel edge 14, so that the tool is adapted to be used for the regulation and adjustment of screws and'other small machine parts. The portion 13 is so formed to act as a sewing machine key for to lock or unlock the sewing machine accessory drawers.

At approximately the medial point of the shank 10, the latter is formed with an elongated diamond shaped opening 15. and one surface of the tool contiguous to said open ing is offset or notched as at 16. 1

A protector or guide plate 17 is slidably mounted on the shank 10 and has its edge portions 18 and 19, bent over and disposed under the opposite side surface of the shank 10, so that the said plate 17 is free for movement longitudinally thereof so that it may be moved to force the extensions 23 and 52 1, soon to be described, against the notch 16 of the shank and to facilitate pulling of the thread through the eye of the'needle. It

also serves to hold the parts down over the slot. A screw 20 is embedded in the shank and passes through an elongated slot 21 in the guide plate 17 A threading member comprises a wire bent intermediate its ends at 22 and thereby forming the two extension 23 and 24L. These extensions are bent in similar diamond configuration as the opening 15 of thetool shank 10 and have their free ends secured to the screw 20. When the guideplate 17 is adjusted to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the threading member extensions 23 and 2a are held snugly against the offset or notched portion '16 of the shank 10 and its apex portion 22 is disposed flush against the reduced ortion 12 of the said shank.

\Vhen the tool is to be used. for threading a sewing machine needle, the shank 10-55.

guided along side of the needle 31, the apex portion 22' entering through the end of the The handle 11 will then rest upon the bed 26 ofthe sewing machine. In this position the tool is disposed in horizontal plane and at right angles to the head 27, thus leaving the hand free for threading.

The guide plate 17 is normally positioned outwardly from the handle portion 11 to force the threading member extensions 23 and 24 against the ofiset or notched portion 16 of the shank. In this position the threading wire member is firmly held and the tool is advanced to insert the apex portion 22 of the wire member, into the needle opening. The tool is now pushed the entire distance forwardly and resultantly the greater part of the said wire member is passed through the needle eye. The extensions 23 and 24 are open to the greatest dimension at their central part. The thread 29 is grasped between the thumb and index finger of the right hand. The end 30 of the said thread, is then inserted between the wire extensions 23 and 24- and is pulled through by the operators other hand. The thread is now released by the operators right hand, and handle 11 of the tool is grasped between the thumb and index finger of the right hand. The tool is drawn away from the needle 31. Resultant of this operation, the wire extensions 2-3 and 2d are pressed together and pass through the eye of the needle, carrying the thread. therebetween, the latter being forced through the eye by the looped portion 22 of the threading wire member. It is to be understood that the member 17 is slidably actuated during each threading operation.

To thread the needle without supporting the tool in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, the thread may be held by the right hand during the passage of the wire member through the needle eye and the thread through the extensions 23 and 24- of the wire threading by the. left hand member, and then the operator by pulling the handle 11 toward himself will draw the thread through theneedle eye.

In this connection, it will be noted that the successive motions undergone by the operator during the threading operation is continuous, that is to say, the guide plate 17 is adjusted to hold the wire member in alinement with the needle eye, the thread is insorted through the tool by the operators right hand, the thread having passed through the threading member is grasped between the thumb and index finger of the operators left hand. Then the handle 11 of the tool is grasped by the operators right hand and the wire threading member and thread are pulled through the eye of the needle.

The guide plate 17 is for holding the wire against the side of the reduced portion 12, when the plate is slid outwardly from the handle. The side, having the wire thereon, is pushed across the end of the needle having the eye therein. When the needle comes to the notch 16, the wire will enter the eye of the needle. As the threader is pressed further forward, the guide-plate slides back and allows the wire to bend out as shown in Figure'5. The guide plate also acts as a shield to protect the wire from getting bent.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction of my invention will be clearly understood, and, therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What I claim as new is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, the herein described tool, comprising a metallic stamping formed with a notch, a handle and an elongated opening, a wire member having extensions adapted to surround said shank opening, a guide member mounted on said shank and adapted to hold said wire over said notch in position to be inserted through the eye of the needle, the said shank opening arranged I for the passage therethrough or the thread.

2. The hereindescribed device for threading a needle com arising means comprising a Shank having a supporting handle integral therewith, said shank formed with a notch an elongated slot, a screw member secured to said shank, a threading member connected to said screw, a plate slidably movable on said shank for holding said threading member flat over said notch in position to enter the needle eye, the thread adapted to pass through said threading member and shank opening and said device adapted for adjustment away from the needle to draw said threading member through said needle eye for threading the same.

3. A threading device comprising a shank and handle, said shank formed with a notch and an elongated opening, a screw mounted on said shank, a threading member comprising a wire bent intermediate its ends to form extensions, said extensions connected to said screw, said extensions being spaced apart at the sides of said shank opening, a plate arranged on said shank and adapted for holding said wire extensions fiat over said notch in position to pass through the needle eye and said device adapted for adjustment to force the said extensions through the needle eye, when the thread has been passed through the said opening and between the said extensions.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BALMER. lVitnesses M. MCMILLAN, E. Lrrnn. 

